6 Hydrating Lipsticks, Lip Stains, and Lip Glosses With Unexpected Fall Colors

Seasonal dryness combined with the dehydration caused by a matte lipstick is a recipe for disaster. But there’s a whole host of hydrating fall lip colors in the form of lipsticks, stains, and glosses to keep your moisturized.

When it comes to the qualities that make a lipstick, stain, or gloss specifically hydrating, it all boils down to the ingredients, explains celebrity makeup artist, Jamie Greenberg. Plant-derived oils, vitamin E, shea butter, waxes like beeswax, jojoba seed oil, different nut oils, and fruit oils like olive fruit oil and coconut oil are great moisturizing ingredients to look for in a lippy, she explains. “You want to stay away from salicylic acid and phenol as they are super drying for lips,” she says.

Shirley Chi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in California, previously told Well+Good readers “not to rely on [the hydrating ingredients] like you would a lip balm or it’ll mess with your lips’ natural moisturizing oil production,” so beware and make sure to include your lips in your nighttime skin-care routine with a hydrating or replenishing mask as well.

Though lip products that are waxier or oilier may not tend to stay in place as well or last as long as their matte counterparts, they are significantly better options for the colder months. They lock moisture for longer, meaning they won’t require you to consistently reapply a lip balm, and they still provide a hint of color.

If you do need to wear a matte or other less hydrating lip color, there are ways to make them a bit less drying as well, says Greenberg. To start, if you are experiencing flakiness, you should prep your lips with a scrub to give whatever kind of color you’re using a smoother surface to hold on to. “You can always apply a more hydrating formula first before a matte lip color, but the matte may lose some of its staying power,” so try tapping a setting powder over the color to keep it locked in place a bit better,” she says.

A good compromise matte lip color is the Younique Moodstruck Opulence Matte Lipstick ($26) with its buttery-smooth formula. “It includes non-drying ingredients like hydrated silica and a blend of waxes to provide a hydrating glide-on application while still having a matte finish that lasts up to eight hours. It’s one of the most hydrating matte formulas I’ve ever tried,” says Greenberg.

Kjaer Weis Lipstick in Serene — $48.00

With beeswax, olive oil, and a whole host of vitamins, this long-lasting lipstick is filled with moisture-rich ingredients, silicone-free, soft, and very pigmented.

NYX Professional Makeup Butter Gloss Lip Gloss in Rocky Road — $5.00

If you’re looking for something that’s not sticky like gloss, but not drying like a matte lip stain, NYX has got you covered. This butter gloss is lightly shiny, smells sweet, and is a great budget option.

Encre Interdite 24 Hour Lip Stain in Purple Tag — $33.00

Hate when your lipstick gets all over your clothes, napkin, and glass when you’re out to dinner? This 24-hour lip stain is thin enough not to dehydrate your lips, but stays on through it all.

Jane Iredale Triple Luxe Long Lasting Naturally Moist Lipstick in Gabby — $35.00

This creamy, pigmented formula lasts for ages and is made with a blend of natural oils and waxes that makes it deeply hydrating, so not only does it not dry out your lips while you wear it, it actually works to moisturize them for the long-term, too.

Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Lipstick in Kate — $24.00

For a matte option that is not like other matte options, this suede-effect lipstick is a dream. It’s feels weightless, soft, and hydrating.

NARS Pleasure Seeker Afterglow Lip Balm Set — $39.00

This gift set is the perfect collection of balms to wear under or over a lip pigment or by themselves for a hint of color. The best part is that since there are two minis and two full sized products, you can keep one in every drawer and bag.

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